Bacteria

Kidney Stones - Interesting New Research implicates bacteria as its cause

In India Kidney Stones are not uncommon problem due to the hot and often humid weather. Most of these stones are made up of Calcium, Oxalate and phosphates. The cause of stone disease is debatable, however it is well known that drinking less water is a risk factor for stone disease. New research by the National Kidney foundation suggests that the culprit is a tiny bacteria called N...

Just spice it up!!!!! Anti bacterial effects of spices unraveled in the West

The West is now sitting up and taking in the aroma of Indian cuisine. The inseparable part of Indian kitchens, the spices are now the subjects of research by scientists at the Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Dr. Daniel Y. C. Fung and colleagues who conducted the study opine that cinnamon, apart from filling the air with its spicy aroma can also double up as an anti bacterial agent.<...

Dangerous food bacteria

Scientists say the bacteria that cause food poisonings aren't going away, despite the efforts of the food industry to eliminate them.New germs arrive in imported foods and bacteria develop in new forms, according to a study from the Institute of Food// Technologists. The bacteria Listeria monocytogenes are so common in the environment. It's practically impossible to keep food entirely free of the...

Tongue piercing leads to bacterial infection

"Body art is regnant among undergraduate university students, and there is significant incidence of medical complications among students with piercing,"// said Dr. Lester B. Mayers of the Pace University Athletic Department's Division of Sports Medicine and the lead author of the study. A survey of university undergraduate students revealed that more than one-half had some type of bod...

Honey curbs bacteria in the oral cavity

The antimicrobial properties of honey could prove effective in arresting the dental plaque bacteria believed to be responsible for dental caries, a New Zealand researcher will report at the American Association// for Dental Research annual meeting this month. An enzyme in honey that produces hydrogen peroxide is the key to the antimicrobial activity of honey, according to Dr. Peter C....

Identifying bacteria made amiable

A Queensland group have developed an efficient method of identifying strains of bacteria, which will help to manage outbreaks of diseases such as meningococcal disease. The Cooperative Research Centre for Diagnostics, based at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has taken advantage of two new technologies// that have emerged in the area of DNA sequencing recently - DNA chip technology and...

Bacterial discovery may help CF patients

Microbiologists from Australian and Danish have discovered a way to prevent or disturb the formation of bacterial colonies, which they believe may bring a string of benefits from preventing lung infections in cystic fibrosis sufferers to cleaner contact lenses.// The discovery, by scientists at the University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience and the Technical University of Denma...

Cure for Bacterial Meningitis

According to a new study it is observed that a drug used to treat inflammation can have good effects for adults diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. Dexamethasone is an effective steroid when given with antibiotics for these patients.// The death rate among adults diagnosed with bacterial meningitis is high, especially in patients who also have pneumonia. Researchers from the Academic Medical Cen...

The Effectiveness Of Antibacterial Products In Reducing Infection

A new study shows the use of antibacterial products, such as soaps, household cleaners and laundry detergents, do not reduce the risk of infectious// disease symptoms in the homes of healthy individuals. Investigators studied 224 households in New York with at least one preschool-age child living in the house. One group was given household cleaning and personal hygiene products that con...

Before Weight Loss Surgery One Should Get Tested for Bacteria

People who are considering weight loss surgery should probably be tested to see if they carry common bacteria responsible for // gastrointestinal disorders, say researchers according to findings of a recent study. Helicobacter pylori bacteria, is known to cause ulcers and has also been linked to stomach cancer. However researchers are baffled as to how this bacteria impacts people undergoing gast...

Light can help fight gum bacteria

A new study on gum bacteria, scientists had been able to use light as a mode of treatment against bacteria of// the oral cavity. The dental samples obtained from patients suffering from chronic periodontitis were exposed to broadband light (380 to 520nm). The light had selectively killed oral black-pigmented bacteria in the gum cultures and the dental plaque samples obtained from patie...

Asthma may increase the risk for bacterial infection of the lungs

Asthma may increase the risk of bacterial infection of the lungs, says a study published in the New England// Journal of Medicine. Researchers had studied persons of age between 2 to 49 years for a period of one year. For each of 635 persons with invasive pneumococcal disease, 10 persons of the same population were chosen as controls. Asthma was defined by the study as proof of diagnos...

Cystic fibrosis patients may require a new treatment for bacterial infection

Patients suffering from cystic fibrosis often gets bacterial infections from the bacteria Pseudomonas.// Treatment for bacterial infections is often by administering antibiotics. Research suggests that antibiotic treatment may encourage the bacteria to affect the patient in a permanent infection. Cystic fibrosis is disease of genetic origin that causes the body to produce thick mucus...

Risks of heart attack related to bacteria in gum plaque

Bacteria that live in the sub-gingival plaques can increase the risk of heart attack //for people. The research, which is published in the current issue of Journal of Periodontology, say that people with periodontal disease who have suffered from an acute myocardial infarction or heart attack are also the ones whose total number of periodontal bacteria in sub gingival plaques were high...

Good bacteria to rescue of colitis patients

Colitis patients who don't respond well to conventional// therapy may soon get help from a bacteria mixture, reports science portal www.eurekalert.org. Richard Fedorak, a professor of gastroenterology at the University of Alberta, and researchers from the University of Bologna in Italy and the University of North Carolina administered probiotic bacteria mixture VSL#3 over a six-week pe...

Molecule That Aids Bacterial Infections Identified

Researchers from University of California, San Diego, had discovered that a single molecule is responsible for helping bacterial infections like bacterial meningitis etc., in the body. // By blocking the molecule’s anchoring ability, researchers may be able to find a way to stave off the most common serious infection of the central nervous system and a major cause of childhood death a...

Tigecycline – New Generation Tetracycline With Broad Spectrum Antibacterial Activit

Richard Wenzel and his colleagues from United Kingdom have found a new antibiotic tigecycline which belongs to the family of new generation of Tetracycline known as Glycycline. // Due to indiscriminate use of antibiotics there is an increased incidence of antibiotic resistance shown by many organisms. Staphylococcus aureus is a gram positive bacteria, which is a major cause of concern...

Mom's Stomach Bacteria Can Cause Leukaemia In Children

A bacterium strain known as Helicobacter pylori may raise the risk of childhood leukaemia, according to a new study.// Two-thirds of the world population carries H. pylori, which is responsible for ulcers. Leukaemia accounts for 25 percent of all childhood cancers worldwide. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) makes up 80 percent of all childhood leukaemia. Clusters of...

Genetically modified bacteria to combat HIV

In a breakthrough, which could eventually lead to a practical and cost effective new way to combat the HIV virus, scientists from the US National Cancer Institute have genetically modified bacteria living in the human body to produce chemicals that block HIV infection. // Most HIV transmission occurs on the surfaces of the gut and reproductive areas, which are normally coated with a l...

Bacteria Evolve Armamentarium Against Antibiotics By ‘Stealing’ Gens

Bacteria, like other living organisms, are exposed to ever-changing environments, oxidative stress, and worst of all, antibiotics.// Bacteria are able to defend themselves against all these insults, gain resistance to new antibiotics and attain new abilities simply by ‘stealing’ genetic information from other better-adapted types of bacteria through the bacterial equivalent of sex, known as horiz...

Bacterial Photographs Created By Student Scientists!

Bacteria have been long regarded as something, only capable of giving rise to infections and diseases. The misconception might soon change.// Thanks to the fervent efforts of students from The University of Texas at Austin and UCSF who have created the first-ever bacterial photographs. An intercollegiate Genetically Engineering Machine (iGEM) competition aimed at promoting the constru...

Bacterial infestation in food very critical!

In a latest development a producer of mug bean sprouts had to stop production due to an outbreak of salmonella infestation.// Toronto Public Health issued an order today against Toronto Sun Wah Trading Inc. to halt distribution of bean sprouts (mung beans) as the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. Two hundred and ninety cases of Salmonella have been reported to the Min...

Tooth Decay Bacteria Unaffected By Altered Biochemical Pathway

Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria responsible for causing tooth decay, are able to survive and multiply without an essential biochemical pathway that is considered// vital for the survival of normal cells. Researchers at the University of Florida have revealed that the tooth decay causing bacteria can carry out its destructive work without this pathway. "We were met with skepticism … b...

Heartburn drugs linked to bacterial diarrhea

People popping popular prescription heartburn drugs such as Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium may be more prone to a potentially dangerous diarrhea caused by the bug Clostridium difficile // , research says. C-diff, as it's known, can cause severe diarrhea and intestinal inflammation with cramps called colitis. Dr. Sandra Dial, with her colleagues at McGill University in Montreal...

Beneficial Symbiotic Relationship Between Ants And Bacteria.

The Entomologist Cameron Currie of the University of Wisconsin and his colleagues discovered the methods used by the ants to protect their fungal garden from the attack of parasites. // The researcher said that this discovery paved way to understand the functioning of the natural systems. Ants of the Attini tribe have been studied extensively in the past few years to comprehend the mech...

Tamiflu substrate produced from Bioengineered Bacteria

The worldwide scare of bird flu pandemic as increased which has lead to stockpiling of large quantities of Tamiflu, antiviral bird flu drug by many countries//. U.S. has stocked more than 4 million Tamiflu drugs and many countries have started producing the generic version of the drug Tamiflu manufactured by the Swiss pharmaceuticals Roche. Due to the gold rush for shikimic acid which i...

Bacteria Commonly Seen In Radioactive Waste, Hot Springs Found Inside Humans

A group of bacteria, previously known to exist in radioactive waste, hot springs and fecal matter of animals has now been found to reside inside the human stomach. // This finding could eventually pave for a better understanding of gastrointestinal diseases and newer treatment strategies. The bacteria 'Helicobacter pylori', that was discovered about 20 years ago, has been largely blam...

Bacteria In Yogurt Can Combat HIV Infection

Conquering the AIDS virus continues to be a challenging task to members of the scientific community. Thanks to the perseverant efforts of the Brown University researchers who have genetically manipulated bacteria present in yoghurt to release an anti-HIV drug. // The results of this research can be found in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The research has promised...

Bacteria born with drug resistance

Researchers from McMaster University has reported in the Journal Science the results of their research in which they found that the scientists screened 480 strains of Streptomyces species which is a soil bacterium and found that all the strains were multi-drug resistance //as they were tested against a battery of 21 different classes of antibiotics. The researchers were astonished by t...

90 Million Americans Harbor Drug Resistant Bacteria Inside Their Nose

A study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases has projected alarming reports of a 32% prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in nasal samples, // among Americans. The organism is implicated as a causative factor in a majority of the hospital acquired infections. This report, prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is consistent with the increase in hospital-acquired inf...

Genetically modified Lactic acid bacteria offers HIV protection

Professor Bharat Ramratnam, Assistant Professor, Brown Medical School is exploring the beneficial properties of Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which is a good probiotic bacteria which is used for fermentation of curd and yogurt, used as a probiotic drug in treating throat infections and// also as applications in saving fish culture system from pathogenic bacteria. Cynovirin protein is foun...

Sodium Nitrate Destroys The Bacteria That Plugs The Air Passage In CF Patients

Sodium nitrite is commonly used as a preservative to cure meat products. A study shows that it has the ability to kill the bacteria that causes thickening of the mucus in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. // The experiment is carried out in laboratory animal models. Daniel Hassett, Ph.D., an associate professor of genetics at the University of Cincinnati said that Pseudomonas aer...

Mice model to study bacterial therapeutic pathway

Researchers from Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology are finding out the mechanism behind bacterial resistance from studying certain mice which had the capacity to resist bacterial infection. // The researchers are using this mice model to find out new therapeutic pathways which could help in treating bacterial infections. Bacterial infections are the most common infe...

New Biosensor Developed To Detect E. Coli Bacteria

Scientists have developed a biosensor to detect the E. Coli bacteria, an infectious agent that causes food borne illness. The biosensor is said to detect the bacteria rapidly and accurately.// The unique technology developed by the University of Rochester Medical Centre uses a protein from the suspect bacteria as part of the sensing system that includes a silicon chip and a digital came...

Whirlpool Bath Tubs Contain Potentially Lethal Bacterial Strains

Researchers from Texas A&M University said that poorly maintained whirlpool bath tubs both private and public serve as breeding grounds for potentially lethal bacterial strains. They tested 43 water samples and found all of them had some kind of microbial growth.// Various Bacterial strains especially those found in feces contributed about 95% of the samples, while 81% had fungi and 34%...

Children Of Smoking Parents Face Increased Risk Of Bacterial Infection

It has been known for a long time that smoking is associated with an increased risk of diseases such as cancer, heart attacks and emphysema. A new study has highlighted that smoker’s children// harbor high levels of Streptococcus pneumonia, a bacteria that can cause pneumonia, sinusitis and meningitis. Nothing, not even a hike in the cigarette price, ban on smoking seems to help peopl...

New UCSD Program to Fight Drug-Resistant Bacteria

In response to the major public health threat posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) are launching a new program to develop novel// antibiotics – from initial discovery, through development and testing, to clinical trials. "UCSD is uniquely positioned to provide all of the necessary expertise to fight this urgent medical p...

Bacteria Infected Sausage

In Norway a new tension has sprung after a large number of people had fallen ill after consuming sausage produced by Gilde of Norway//, under the brands Gilde Birkebeiner Fjellmorr, Gilde Birkebeiner Sognemorr and Gilde Haugp?lse. The Norwegians authorities have advertised throughtout the country and have also requested the shop owners from selling ground beef. Food authorities say th...

Petting Zoos Can Lead To Bacterial Infection And Illness

What might be fun for kids may lead to bacterial infection and gastrointestinal illness, reports a study that was conducted on petting zoos and feeding animals//. The results of the study further project that most people were unaware that simple preventive measures such as hand washing could prevent such infections. The results of three such similar studies would be presented at the I...

Bottled Water Contains Coliform Bacteria and Diatoms

The New York State Department of Health has confirmed coliform bacteria and diatoms in some samples of bottled water produced by North Country Spring Water//, Ltd. For this reason North Country Spring Water, Ltd. of Port Kent is voluntarily recalling all of its bottled water products. Coliform bacteria are naturally present in the environment. But presence of coliform bacteria in bot...